Celebrating Advent with a Jesse Tree

Isaiah 11:1-10

"1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord- 3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious."

Each day from December 1 to December 25 an ornament is hung on the Jesse Tree after the Reading of the Daily Bible passage. You can include the Jesse Tree Tradition in your Nightly Advent Candle lighting.

A Jesse Tree used in the home can be anything. It can be handmade from felt or material and hung on a wall. You can get a newspaper roll from your local paper and trace a tree. You can use a branch or a small table top tree. You can even use your refrigerator door. Whatever you choose let it be enjoyable.

It doesn't matter how you display your tree, what matters is bringing the anticipation of Christ's Return into your Advent Celebration. Focus on God's word and marvel at his feet.

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* Tree (branch)
* 25 Ornaments (felt, paper, embroidery)
* Ribbon for hanging (yarn, hemp twine, magnets, velcro, etc.)
* Bible

You can use any art medium you are comfortable with. See the links below for printable ornaments.

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You will need to make 25 ornaments. You can make them all at once or do it each night. Each night you will be Reading a Bible Passage and the ornaments correspond to the reading.

December 1: Creation (world)
December 2: Adam and Eve (adam-eve)
December 3: The Fall of Man (apple or snake)
December 4: Noah (ark-rainbow)
December 5: Abraham (sword)
December 6: Issac (ram)
December 7: Jacob (ladder)
December 8: Joseph (coat of many colors)
December 9: Moses (tablets-commandments)
December 10: Rahab (rope)
December 11: Jesse (staff)
December 12: David (sheep-harp)
December 13: Solomon (scales)
December 14: Joseph (carpenter tools)
December 15: Mary (Lily)
December 16: John the Baptist (locusts-honey)
December 17: Jesus is Wisdom (Book-Bible)
December 18: Jesus is Lord (Burning Bush)
December 19: Jesus is the flower of Jesse (flower)
December 20: Jesus is Key of David (key)
December 21: Jesus is the Radiant Dawn (rising sun)
December 22: Jesus is King of the Gentiles (crown)
December 23: Jesus is Emmanuel (ark of the covenant)
December 24: Jesus is the Light of the World (Star or Candle)
December 25: JESUS (manger with babe- Christ's return)

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December 1: Genesis 1: 26-31
December 2: Gen. 2:7-9, 18-24
December 3: Genesis 3: 1-19
December 4: Genesis 6: 11-14; 7: 17-8: 3; 9: 8-13
December 5: Genesis 12: 1-7
December 6: Genesis 22: 1-14
December 7: Genesis 28: 10-22
December 8: Genesis 37: 1-36; 50: 15-21
December 9: Deuteronomy 5: 1-22
December 10: Joshua 2: 1-21
December 11: Isaiah 11:1-10
December 12: 1 Sam. 16:1-13
December 13: 1 Kings 3:5-14, 16-28
December 14: Matt. 1:18-25
December 15: Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38
December 16: Mark 1:1-8
December 17: Jesus is Wisdom (Book-Bible)
December 18: Ex. 3:2; 20:1
December 19: Isaiah 11:1-3
December 20: Isaiah 22:22
December 21: Isaiah 41:25-26
December 22: Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20
December 23: Isaiah 7:14; 33:22
December 24: John 1:1-14
December 25: Luke 2:1-20

Each night end with a Christmas Carol bringing your hearts and minds close to Christ.

December 1: O Come O Come Emmanuel
December 2: The First Noel
December 3: Angels we have Heard on High
December 4: Little Drummer Boy
December 5: O Come all ye Faithful
December 6: Do you hear what I hear?
December 7: O little town of Bethlehem
December 8: We three Kings
December 9: Mary did you Know?
December 10: No Room
December 11: The Night that Christ Was Born
December 12: While you were sleeping
December 13: Christ was born on Christmas Day
December 14: Go Tell it on the mountain
December 15: Good Christian Men Rejoice
December 16: I heard the bells on Christmas Day
December 17: It came upon a Midnight Clear
December 18: Unto us a child is born
December 19: What Child is this?
December 20: I Wonder as I Wander
December 21: God rest ye merry gentlemen
December 22: Away in the Manger
December 23: Silent Night
December 24: O Holy Night
December 25: Joy to the World

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